Antonio Benito Lopez produced a strong all-round performance at the first T100 event of the 2025 season. The first race of the series took place in baking hot conditions in Singapore. After winning the Spanish Team Duathlon Championships in early March, Antonio knew his form was on point. After a consistent race from start to finish, the Spanish BMC athlete finished 7th in a time of 3:24:34. Hayden Wilde won the race (3:18:11), with Leo Bergere (3:20:45) in second and Marten Van Riel rounding out the podium (3:21:81).
Strong in all three disciplines
Antonio Benito Lopez started the day with a solid swim. At the Australian exit after the first lap of the swim, Antonio was positioned well into the chase group in 12th place, 24” from the lead. After a consistent second lap the BMC athlete exited the water in 11th place and after a fast transition jumped on his bike in 10th, 45” from the lead. In the early parts of the bike leg Benito Lopez made the connection with the end of a long stretched out lead group. With a third of the bike leg done Antonio Benito Lopez was riding well, sitting in 11th, 1’10” from the lead. From then onwards the gaps started stretching even more and eventually the group split in two with Antonio riding attentively in the chase group constantly riding around 10th place. The Spaniard eventually entered T2 in 10th place and started running with a 4’15 deficit to the lead. Antonio settled in a strong pace from the start and focused on maintaining his effort to the finish in brutally hot and humid conditions. At the halfway mark of the 18k run, Benito Lopez started to make up ground on Bogen and Noodt in front of him. He kept running a faster pace, overtaking the both of them. Holding a strong pace to the end, keeping off a charging Sam Long in the final km's, the BMC athlete took a superb 7th place finish at the first T100 event in Singapore.
Tough but happy
Afterwards Benito Lopez reflected on his performance: "7th place for me in the first T100 event of the year. It was hot, humid, and tough out there! Happy with my race but hungry for more! It’s going to be a long season, and consistency is key. Feeling lucky to compete against the best in the world. Thanks to T100 and the city of Singapore for hosting such an incredible event!"
In the women's race team mate Lucy Byram had to withdraw from the race halfway through the bike. Unfortunately Lucy suffered from food poisoning earlier in the week and the body was not responding at all in the heat. Not the start of the season Lucy had worked so hard for, but plenty of opportunities to come for her.
